Summary

This study has been titled "Simple Revelation". "Simple" here is not a gimmick. It is an apt description of the approach taken, which is simple at its core. It is a powerful tool to grow in confident understanding of Revelation, as well as other parts of scripture. It also helps counter the common mystery, fear, and confusion about it.

Specifically, this approach is to a) focus on what's presented as literal (and take it as such), and b) let the pictures just be pictures, unless and until c) the Word explains the literal meaning of a picture.

Following that approach (patiently), it seems that the primary message, to the 7 named churches, is an encouragement to (straighten up, for most, and) stand firm in their faith through the unusually heavy persecution of an un-named 8th king to come soon. History says that would have been Domitian to them.

Credit

This study was inspired by and initially modeled after the Book of Revelation series about halfway down this page. Our study is indebted to God's work through Brent Newton for teaching their series and the Fairgrounds Road Church of Christ for making it available online.

Notes

These were not refined with the intent of public consumption, but in case they are nonetheless helpful to anyone, class notes for this study are offered here.

Here are links to the slides (PPTx) and class handout (PDF) we used for our Revelation classes in 2014, one in the winter, and another immediately after it in the spring.

Additionally, here is a link to the slides (PPTx) for a quick one-night study of it which we recently led (December 2017). These slides are mostly just a small set of the slides from the original file, with only minor edits. We reused the same PDF handout. This was a quick summary of and prelude to the class we are planning to offer in our spring quarter, starting in March (2018).